Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs because it is a duplication of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
Kalu said this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
He congratulated Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on their successful assumption of office.
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“Some of the ministries and parastatals that are no longer viable like the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and some other ministries that are not viable should be scrapped.
“We have the Niger Delta Development Commission like we have the North East Development Commission. So the Ministry of Niger Delta should be scrapped,” he said.
He, however, advised that the NDDC should be repositioned to report directly to the President as stipulated by its establishment Act.
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“In the Act, there is nowhere they say NDDC will report to the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Affairs.
“They should allow the NDDC as a commission to be able to function purely as a commission.”
The lawmaker, who represents Abia North at the National Assembly, said that with Tinubu as president, the days of stealing public funds were gone.
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“We are planning and ready to return this country to the Nigerian people.
“And people who are coming in, thinking to steal money, should have a rethink because those days are over.”
Kalu is in stiff competition with Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the seat of the Senate President in the 10th NASS.
NAN
